Ford, GM, Chrysler Ask 'Shutdown, What Shutdown?' as Sales Rise

Ford, GM and Chrysler all report double-digit sales gains in October.

DETROIT ( TheStreet) -- The Detroit Three automakers, led by GM ( GM), all shrugged off any impact from the government shutdown and reported double-digit sales gains in October.

GM said sales rose 16% to 226,402 units. Ford ( F) said sales rose 14% to 191,985 units. Chrysler said sales rose 11% to 140,083 units, its best October sales since 2007.

"After a choppy start to the beginning of the month, Chrysler Group sales accelerated in the second half of the month with renewed consumer confidence and the launch of our all-new Jeep Cherokee," said Reid Bigland, Chrysler's head of U.S. sales.

Chrysler projected the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate in October at 15.7 million units.

GM said retail sales rose 16% while fleet sales rose 14%. "Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick-GMC all performed well in the month, and the sales tempo really picked up after the government shutdown ended," said Kurt McNeil, vice president, U.S. sales operations. "We are particularly pleased with our truck momentum."